Fairfax County, VA to Begin Major Overhaul of Waste Collection System Next Year

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): Fairfax County officials are moving forward with plans to overhaul how trash and recycling are handled, aiming to have a centralized collection system by 2030. The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) has proposed a “Unified Sanitation District” model to replace the current system, where most residents hire private haulers. Instead, the county would grant exclusive contracts to private companies to manage waste collection in specific geographic areas.

County officials argue that a centralized system will improve service reliability, lower residents’ costs and reduce waste collection’s environmental impact by streamlining operations and decreasing truck traffic. “This is a major undertaking, but I believe very strongly that the unified sanitation districts have the opportunity to be really transformative for our residents,” Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said during the Board of Supervisors’ environmental committee meeting.

DPWES began developing its proposal for a unified sanitation district model as part of a larger effort to update the county’s 20-year solid waste management plan and meet greenhouse gas emissions and sustainability goals.

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com